Container with seal assurance means

ABSTRACT

The container ( 1 ) which can be sealed in a tamper-proof manner by a seal assurance means ( 5 ) has an outwardly projecting opening edge ( 2 ) and connected to the opening edge with sealing contact a cover ( 3 ) which is connected to the container ( 1 ) by the seal assurance means ( 5 ) in such a manner that non-destructive release is impossible. The seal assurance means ( 5 ) is formed on one side by a retaining ring ( 6 ) which encircles the container ( 1 ) below its opening edge ( 2 ) and on the other side by a cover part ( 7 ) which covers over the cover ( 3 ) of the container ( 1 ) at least partially. The retaining ring ( 6 ) is hingedly connected to the cover part ( 7 ) of the seal assurance means and at at least one area across the container and opposite the hinge connection ( 8, 9 ) there are, mutually engaging in such a manner that non-destructive release is impossible, locking means ( 10 - 13 ) which interlock the retaining ring ( 6 ) and the cover part ( 7 ) of the seal assurance means ( 5 ). Thus the cover ( 3 ) sealing the container ( 1 ) is sealed between them in such a manner that non-destructive release is impossible.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention concerns a container with an outwardly projecting opening edge, a cover connected to the opening edge with sealing contact, and a seal assurance means which connects the cover to the container in such a manner that non-destructive release is impossible.

2. Related Art

Seal assurance means for containers are needed to make unauthorized and unverifiable access to the contents of the container impossible, as, for example, is required for storing a urine sample from a doping test. An example of a seal assurance means provided on a sample container is known from EP10405191.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a container with a seal assurance means which with little effort by the user can be mounted and sealed on a container of known design and which like the container can be produced in a simple and economical manner with the plastic injection-molding process.

This object of the invention can be achieved in that the seal assurance means comprises on one side a retaining ring which encircles the container below its opening edge and on the other side a cover part which covers over the cover of the container at least partially, where the retaining ring is hingedly connected to the cover part and at at least one area across the container and opposite the hinge connection comprises, engaging in such a manner that non-destructive release is impossible, locking means which interlock the retaining ring and the cover part of the seal assurance means so that they enclose the cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims and are to be inferred from the following description with the aid of the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a container with, provided on it, a seal assurance means according to the invention but not yet closed on the container;

FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the container with closed seal assurance means;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the container according to FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged partial cross section in the area of the locking means of the seal assurance means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The container 1, for example, has, as shown in FIG. 1, the downwards tapering, conical form of a can with an opening edge 2 projecting radially outwards over which a snap-on cover 3 of known design is interlocked by its gripping edge 4 simply from being pressed on. A substance previously filled into the container, such as, for example, the urine sample from a doping test, is consequently sealed airtight in the container 1.

The seal assurance means 5 provided for tamper-proof storage of the contents of the container is fastened as a cover securement means attaching to the filled and sealed container 1 in such a manner that non-destructive release is impossible. Relating to this the seal assurance means 5 has a retaining ring 6 which can be pushed onto the container 1 from below until coming in contact with or close to the opening edge 2 and has, foldable over the snap-on cover 3, a cover part 7 which in this position, aligned parallel to the snap-on cover 3 and corresponding to the representation in FIG. 1, is interlocked with the retaining ring 6 in such a manner that non-destructive release is impossible.

In order to enable the thereby required folding movement of the cover part 7, it is jointedly or hingedly connected, e.g. via two flexible bars 8, 9, as one piece to the retaining running 6 on the side.

For interlocking the cover part 7 in such a manner that non-destructive release is impossible, locking means suitable therefor are provided on diametrically opposite sides of this bendable connection. These locking means have on one of these interlocking parts 7 locking shanks 10, 11, and on the other part 6 respective locking collets 12, 13 which can interlock with one another in a simple manner on folding over of the cover part 7 onto the retaining ring.

According to the represented embodiment example of the invention there are on the retaining ring 6 and projecting radially out from it two locking collets 12, 13 having an annular cross section, on whose inner side, by means of a nose-like cross section or an inner face 14 tapering conically downwards, an encircling lock shoulder 15 is formed. For easier implementability of the lock shoulder 15 in the injection-molding process the locking collets 12, 13 are designed to be open on both sides.

The locking shanks 10, 11 each constitute, formed on the outside of the cover part and insertable into the locking collets 12, 13, a hollow dowel 16 which has, on a part of its peripheral face, also in the form of a shoulder, and nose-like in its cross section, a projecting cross section by which a locking detent 17 is formed. This locking detent part 17 extends, for example, along a peripheral face of approximately more than 180° and therefore, while having sufficient stability of form, is still sufficiently bendable for secure locking engagement in order to produce the locking engagement.

Releasing the described locking engagement is only possible by destruction of or visible damage to the cover part 7, for example, by cutting off the locking collets 12, 13, including the locking shanks 10, 11 enclosed in them. 

1. Container with an outwardly projecting opening edge (2), a cover (3) connected to the opening edge with sealing contact, and a seal assurance means (5) which connects the cover to the container (1) in such a manner that non-destructive release is impossible, characterized in that the seal assurance means (5) comprises on one side a retaining ring (6) which encircles the container (1) below its opening edge (2) and on the other side a cover part (7) which covers over the cover (3) of the container (1) at least partially, where the retaining ring (6) is hingedly connected to the cover part (7) and at at least one area across the container and opposite the hinge connection (8, 9) comprises, engaging in such a manner that non-destructive release is impossible, locking means (10-13) which interlock the retaining ring (6) and the cover part (7) of the seal assurance means (5) so that they enclose the cover (3).
 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal assurance means (5) is formed as one piece of plastic so that the hinge connection (8, 9) forms an integral hinge.
 3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the hinge connection is formed by at least two flexible bars (8, 9) connecting their retaining ring (6) to their cover part.
 4. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking means of the seal assurance means (5) consist of at least one locking shank (10, 11) and at least one corresponding locking collet (12, 13) which on one side are formed on the retaining ring (6) and on the other side are formed on the cover part (7).
 5. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one locking collet (12, 13) is open on both sides and has inner profiling tapering conically in the direction of locking engagement and ending in a lock shoulder (15).
 6. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one locking shank (10, 11) is embodied as a hollow dowel (16) formed on the cover part (7) and insertable into a locking collet (12, 13), said hollow dowel having, on a part of its peripheral face and forming a shoulder, a nose-like cross section by which a locking detent 17 is formed.
 7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the dowel (16) of the locking shank (10, 11) forms a downwardly open hollow body. 